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Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Boeremag Trial Hears of 'secret document'

Two recaptured Afrikaaner activists who are being tried in the Pretoria High court for treason said in a statement read by their attorney that they extended a hand of friendship "to everyone, black and white, who acknowledges that the Boers are native to Africa and that the same rights are vested in them as in any other African people -- also the right to govern themselves in our own fatherland".

Pretoria, South Africa

29 January 2007

Recaptured Boeremag escapees Herman van Rooyen and Rudi Gouws will remain in shackles for now, it emerged in their Pretoria High Court treason trial on Monday.

Their legal representative, advocate Piet Pistorius, initially indicated that they had instructed him to oppose a prosecution move to have them remain shackled while in court.

However, he later abandoned his stance, explaining to the court that his clients would abide by the present arrangements for the time being.

Pistorius was earlier given time to study a "secret" document found in possession of Van Rooyen and Gouws during their arrest earlier this month.

Chief prosecutor Paul Fick SC told the court the document contains further conspiracy plans and plans setting out the intention to use violence to free their co-accused from C-Max prison.

He asked that the contents of the document should not be made public as it is "not meant for everyone's eyes" as a result of its contents.

Attorney Paul Kruger, who read out a statement on behalf of Van Rooyen and Gouws, told the court Van Rooyen claimed to have assessed the situation in the country and concluded that violently overthrowing the government is not an option "at this stage".
In their statement, the two extended a hand of friendship "to everyone, black and white, who acknowledges that the Boers are native to Africa and that the same rights are vested in them as in any other African people -- also the right to govern themselves in our own fatherland".

They also hoped "their people" would abandon discord and elect a body with a mandate to further their claim for self-determination.

The men's sisters, Liezel van Rooyen and Sunita Gouws, expressed relief on Monday that their brothers were caught without bloodshed.

Van Rooyen hoped the police realised her brother and Gouws had weapons in their possession for self-defence because of threats that they would be shot if they were caught.

Gouws asked the public to keep in mind that neither of the men had harmed anyone in their nine months on the run, despite allegations that they were dangerous and heavily armed during that time.

Gouws's father, Pieter Gouws, who saw his son at court for the first time in nine months, told the two to stand strong and do what they believed in.
Van Rooyen's mother, Marie, had not worried about them while they were outside, because they are "tough guys".

The mother of four of the accused, Minnie Pretorius, complained bitterly about her treatment at Pretoria's local prison during a visit in December.

She claimed warders searched and handled food with their hands, shouted at her and insulted her when she complained. She said complaints to the head of C-Max prison remain unanswered.

Another accused, Tom Vorster, also complained to the court that his attempts to get legal aid for an application to protect his constitutional rights -- especially those as an awaiting-trial prisoner for contact visits -- had been ignored for more than three years.

The trial continues with the cross-examination of a state witness on the admissibility of documents allegedly found in possession of accused Dirk Hanekom.